Solskjaer 33/1 to succeed Alex Ferguson as next Man Utd manager

News that Sir Alex Ferguson is set to retire at the end of next season has prompted feverish speculation as to the likely heir to the Old Trafford throne. Coral go 11/8 favourite about Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho being the man for the job, with David Moyes second in the betting, but with drawbacks over both men’s approaches former-Red Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be the value in Coral’s next Manchester United manager betting at 33/1.

David Moyes has long lingered towards the top of the betting for the manager who will eventually replace Sir Alex Ferguson and the Scot’s time at Everton has highlighted his abilities to create and sustain an overachieving team on a shoestring budget.

However despite Moyes’ admirable work at Goodison Park, the Glasgow native has failed to deliver a single trophy in his 11 year tenure, in fact the sole silverware the Toffees gaffer has delivered in his managerial career is Preston North End’s second division title.

Jose Mourinho earned Fergie’s respect when he revolutionised Chelsea in the early years of the Abramovich era and his trophy cabinet would be much more reassuring to the Red Devils’ board and fans alike, but his lack of a legacy-building legacy at Inter, Porto and Real Madrid may count against him at a club used to unparalleled stability.

Making a stamp on a club that has been built in Fergie’s image will take time and the fans will need to be patient if things do not immediately continue in the manner they have been used under the great Scot. As a club legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be granted that leeway, but unlike other big club legends-turned-managers such as Roy Keane, John Barnes or Bryan Robson Solskjaer has quality managerial experience on his CV.

Having coached United’s reserves to victories in the Lancashire Senior Cup and Manchester Senior Cup in his first coaching role at the club, Solskjaer signed to manage Molde in his native Norway on a four-year contract in 2010. Since then he has managed the club to consecutive Tippeligaen titles.

With his contract in it’s final year next season, Solskjaer could be primed to succeed a man he has worked with as a player and as a coach, providing a sense of continuity at a club which has found such profit in that virtue in the Premier League era.